Silva International, a supplier of dehydrated vegetables, herbs, fruits and mushrooms, plans an $8 million expansion at its production plant, 13 miles east of Kankakee, in Momence, Illinois.

The 35-year-old company will almost double the size of its 190,000-square-foot plant, with a 180,000-square-foot expansion that includes a special warehouse facility featuring zero-oxygen capability.

Silva imports vegetables and fruits, dehydrates them, and sells the finished product as powder blends or granules for both people and pets. According to published reports the company has about 220 associates and annual sales of about $100 million.

According to company officials, “Over our long and successful history, we've stayed focused on what we do best: producing ingredients using the highest possible standards. With more than three decades of experience, we take pride in our reputation as a leader in the marketplace.”

“We have the flexibility to find the best crop sources in the world. This enables us to provide the best in both cost and quality,” company officials said. “We even source some ingredients from opposite hemispheres to take advantage of alternate crop cycles and to access the freshest ingredients year-round.”

“ Our strategic partnerships for our raw material give us the ability to combat crop failures and take full advantage of lower costs, while always maintaining the best quality available. We choose the freshest produce from leading planting locations, guaranteeing robust, hearty stocks that result in the most flavorful dehydrated ingredients,” the company noted on its website.

The Silva USA was established in 1970, a part of the Silva European Group of companies; Nine years later it incorporated as a separate entity. In 1994 the company opened its plant in Momence.

Kent DeVries, Vice President & CEO of Silva, told the Daily Journal of Kankakee Illinois, "There is such a big emphasis on health and nutrition. We simply know more as a society. We know what we consume affects our health, and this results in [the] need for natural products, and that's fruits and vegetables. We [Silva] fit nicely into that category."

Tim Nugent, President & CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, told the Daily Journal “Momence has turned into an economic engine with employment opportunities, and Silva is just another example of what's taking place in eastern Kankakee County.”

"This is a substantial project," Nugent said. "A lot of people don't know the millions of dollars being invested locally. This is what we've been after for years here. We're seeing job creation, money being invested and wages going up."